Elbow Exercises

EXERCISES

RANGE OF MOTION (ROM) AND STRETCHING EXERCISES

These exercises may help you when beginning to rehabilitate your injury. Your symptoms may go away with or without further involvement from your physician, physical therapist or athletic trainer. While completing these exercises, remember:

Restoring tissue flexibility helps normal motion to return to the joints. This allows healthier, less painful movement and activity.

An effective stretch should be held for at least 30 seconds.

A stretch should never be painful. You should only feel a gentle lengthening or release in the stretched tissue.

RANGE OF MOTION – Extension

Hold your right / left arm at your side and straighten your elbow as far as you can, using your right / left arm muscles.

Straighten the elbow farther by gently pushing down on your forearm until you feel a gentle stretch on the inside of your elbow. Hold this position for __________ seconds.

Slowly return to the starting position.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this exercise __________ times per day.

RANGE OF MOTION – Flexion

Hold your right / left arm at your side and bend your elbow as far as you can using your arm muscles.

Bend the right / left elbow farther by gently pushing up on your forearm until you feel a gentle stretch on the outside of your elbow. Hold this position for __________ seconds.

Slowly return to the starting position.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this exercise __________ times per day.

RANGE OF MOTION – Supination, Active

Stand or sit with your elbows at your side. Bend your right / left elbow to 90 degrees.

Turn your palm upward until you feel a gentle stretch on the inside of your forearm.

Hold this position for __________ seconds. Slowly release and return to the starting position.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this stretch __________ times per day.

RANGE OF MOTION – Pronation, Active

Stand or sit with your elbows at your side. Bend your right / left elbow to 90 degrees.

Turn your palm downward until you feel a gentle stretch on the top of your forearm.

Hold this position for __________ seconds. Slowly release and return to the starting position.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this stretch __________ times per day.

STRETCH – Elbow Flexors

Lie on a firm bed or countertop, on your back. Be sure that you are in a comfortable position which will allow you to relax your arm muscles.

Place a folded towel under your right / left upper arm, so that your elbow and shoulder are at the same height. Extend your arm; your elbow should not rest on the bed or towel

Allow the weight of your hand to straighten your elbow. Keep your arm and chest muscles relaxed. Your caregiver may ask you to increase the intensity of your stretch by adding a small wrist or hand weight.

Hold for __________ seconds. You should feel a stretch on the inside of your elbow. Slowly return to the starting position.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this exercise __________ times per day.

STRENGTHENING EXERCISES

These exercises may help you when beginning to rehabilitate your injury. They may resolve your symptoms with or without further involvement from your physician, physical therapist or athletic trainer. While completing these exercises, remember:

Muscles can gain both the endurance and the strength needed for everyday activities through controlled exercises.

Complete these exercises as instructed by your physician, physical therapist or athletic trainer. Increase the resistance and repetitions only as guided.

You may experience muscle soreness or fatigue, but the pain or discomfort you are trying to eliminate should never worsen during these exercises. If this pain does get worse, stop and make sure you are following the directions exactly. If the pain is still present after adjustments, discontinue the exercise until you can discuss the trouble with your caregiver.

STRENGTH - Elbow Flexors, Isometric

Stand or sit upright on a firm surface. Place your right / left arm so that your hand is palm-up and at the height of your waist.

Place your opposite hand on top of your forearm. Gently push down as your right / left arm resists. Push as hard as you can with both arms without causing any pain or movement at your right / left elbow. Hold this stationary position for __________ seconds.

Gradually release the tension in both arms. Allow your muscles to relax completely before repeating.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this exercise __________ times per day.

STRENGTH - Elbow Extensors, Isometric

Stand or sit upright on a firm surface. Place your right / left arm so that your palm faces your abdomen and it is at the height of your waist.

Place your opposite hand on the underside of your forearm. Gently push up as your right / left arm resists. Push as hard as you can with both arms without causing any pain or movement at your right / left elbow. Hold this stationary position for __________ seconds.

Gradually release the tension in both arms. Allow your muscles to relax completely before repeating.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this exercise __________ times per day.

STRENGTH – Elbow Flexors, Supinated

With good posture, stand, or sit on a firm chair without armrests. Allow your right / left arm to rest at your side with your palm facing forward.

Allow your muscles to control the resistance, as your hand returns to your side.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this exercise __________ times per day.

STRENGTH - Elbow Extensors, Dynamic

With good posture, stand, or sit on a firm chair without armrests. Keeping your upper arms at your side, bring both hands up toward your right / left shoulder while gripping a rubber exercise band or tubing. Your right / left hand should be just below the other hand.

Straighten your right / left elbow. Hold for __________ seconds.

Allow your muscles to control the rubber exercise band, as your hand returns to your shoulder.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this exercise __________ times per day.